Hilda M. Thompson, 86

SMYRNA - Hilda M. Thompson, 86, fulfilled her desire to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 7, 2009, at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford. Hilda was the first girl and the third child of ten children born to the late Everett and Marie Evans Thompson of Belvedere. Hilda graduated from the Harlem School of Nursing in 1946 and Delaware State College in 1949. She was the school nurse in the Belvedere and Middletown School Districts, a Delaware State College nurse, staff nurse, head nurse, visiting nurse, Associate Director of Nursing at the Provident Helene Fuld School of Nursing, and Supervisor of Nursing at both Sydenham and Harlem Hospitals in New York. She retired in 1987. Hilda was a former member of Simpson AME Church in Belvedere, Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Md., and the Church of Intercession in New York City, where she was a "Lay Reader," and a member and officer of the Harlem Heights Federal Credit Union. She was a current member of Bethel AME church in Smyrna, where she served as an active participant in Bible Sturdy. Hilda was a lifetime member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Delaware State University Alumni Association, Harlem Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association and the National Council of Negro Women. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, Oliver, Carl, Harold and Everett Thompson; and three sisters, Constance, Barbara Colburn and Marguerite Guy. "Sister" or "Auntie," as she was affectionately called, leaves her love and worldly advice to her devoted brother, Howard L. Thompson, Wilmington, N.C., and her sister, Minnie T. Johnson, with whom she shared a home. Having no natural children of her own, she shared in the lives of her many nieces and nephews, from the eldest to the youngest. She also leaves to cherish her memory three godchildren, Marietta Goodman of Baltimore, Diane Onley of Wilmington, and Keith Johnson of Dover. Viewing will be Wednesday May 13, 2009 from 6-8 p.m. at Bethel AME Church in Smyrna with AKA Ivy Beyond The Wall Ritual beginning at 6:30 p.m. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday May 14, 2009 at Bethel AME Church in Smyrna where friends may view two hours prior. Burial will be in Massey Cemetery, Smyrna. Condolences may be sent to benniesmithfuneralhome.com.